CVE-2025-41750 is a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability classified under CWE-79 affecting the Phoenix Contact FL SWITCH 2005, a device commonly used in industrial network environments. The vulnerability exists in the pxc_PortCfg.php web management page, where improper neutralization of input allows injection of malicious scripts. An unauthenticated remote attacker can craft a specially crafted URL that, when clicked by an authenticated user, executes arbitrary JavaScript in the context of the web application. Although the session cookie is protected by the httpOnly flag, preventing session hijacking, the attacker can manipulate device configuration parameters exposed via the web interface. This manipulation could lead to unauthorized changes in network switch settings, potentially disrupting network traffic or causing denial of service. The vulnerability does not grant access to underlying operating system resources or privileged functions, limiting the scope of impact to the device’s configuration layer. The CVSS v3.1 score is 7.1, reflecting high severity due to network attack vector, no privileges required, low attack complexity, required user interaction, and impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No patches or exploits are currently publicly available, but the vulnerability is published and should be addressed promptly to prevent exploitation in operational environments.

For European organizations, especially those in critical infrastructure sectors such as manufacturing, energy, and transportation that rely on Phoenix Contact FL SWITCH 2005 devices, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Unauthorized modification of network switch configurations can lead to network disruptions, degraded performance, or denial of service, impacting operational continuity. Confidentiality may be partially compromised if configuration data reveals sensitive network topology or settings. Integrity is directly affected as attackers can alter device parameters, potentially enabling further attacks or causing misrouting of traffic. Availability risks arise from potential misconfigurations causing network outages. Given the industrial nature of the affected product, disruption could have cascading effects on production lines or critical services. The requirement for user interaction limits automated exploitation but social engineering or phishing campaigns targeting network administrators could facilitate attacks. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for mitigation before widespread exploitation occurs.

Organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Immediately restrict access to the FL SWITCH 2005 web management interface to trusted networks and users only, ideally via VPN or secure management VLANs. 2) Enforce strong authentication and multi-factor authentication for all users accessing the device management interface to reduce risk of compromised credentials. 3) Educate network administrators and users about phishing and social engineering risks to prevent clicking on malicious links. 4) Monitor network traffic and device logs for unusual configuration changes or access patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. 5) If available, apply vendor patches or firmware updates addressing this vulnerability as soon as they are released. 6) Consider deploying web application firewalls or intrusion prevention systems that can detect and block XSS payloads targeting the management interface. 7) Regularly audit device configurations and backup settings to enable rapid recovery in case of unauthorized changes. 8) Segment industrial control networks to isolate critical devices from general IT networks, limiting exposure. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control, user training, monitoring, and network segmentation tailored to the industrial environment.